Assembly for transferring articles to a treating area



July 2, 1968 J. H. CARPENTER, JR.. ETAL 3,

ASSEMBLY FOR TRANSFERRING ARTICLES TO A TREATING AREA Filed NOV. 30;1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR James H C aw'pezz 561 f ATTORNEYS y 1963J. H/CAR-PENTER, JR.. ETAL 3,390,488

ASSEMBLY FOR TRANSFERRING ARTICLES TO A TREATING AREA Filed NOV. :50,1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS James II. Cmpczz fem/1'.

J y 1968 J. H. CARPENTER, JR.. ETAL 3,390,488

ASSEMBLY FOR TRANSFERRING ARTICLES TO A TREATING AREA Filed Nov. 30,1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTO S James H Carpelri'en 1': Harry]? 50 E017,Jzc

E; tbsaplz BY J @3 frrom s y 2, 1968 I J. H. CARPENTER, JR.. ETAL3,390,488

ASSEMBLY FOR TRANSFERRING ARTICLES TO A TREATING AREA Filed Nov. 30,1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 \lLf INVENTORS James]? Ca?" 613%: Early F30ZZOJ'fi J12 ATTORNEYS y 2, 1963 J. H. CARPENTER, JR.. ETAL 3,390,488

ASSEMBLY FOR TRANSFERRINC' ARTICLES TO A TREATING AREA 9 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Nov. 30, 1965 INVENTORS J6U/l63 H Ca peni'enJr. Han" F150 ltorffr. J sap EBowZirfiJr:

ATTORNEYS y 2, 1968 J. H. CARPENTER, JR., ETAL 3,390,488

ASSEMBLY FOR TRANSFERRINC' ARTICLES TO A TREATING AREA Filed Nov. 30,1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS James H Calyvani'al; J1:

ATTORNEY 5 y 2, 1963 J. H. CARPENTER, JR.. ETAL 3,390,488

ASSEMBLY FOR TRANSFERRING ARTICLES TO A TREATING AREA 9 Sheets-Sheet '7Filed Nov. 30, 1965 INVENTORS James HCalgvcnicnJn Harr yEBo ttorfifiJoscph'E Bowlir ggf.

Mfi ATTORNEYS y 2, 1968 J. H. CARPENTER, JR.. ETAL 3,390,488

ASSEMBLY FOR TRANSFERRING ARTICLES TO TREATING AREA Filed NOV. 30, 19659 Sheets-Sheet 8 2o jflr. 124

'fi J HT EZ E arms amen 1; 30 Hal?" FBohorfJz:

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ASSEMBLY FOR TRANSFERRINC- ARTICLES TO A TREATING AREA Filed NOV. 30,1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 James H- Gmpaniarm Ha United States Patent3,390,488 ASSEMBLY FOR TRANSFERRING ARTICLES TO A TREATING AREA Bottorf,Jr., Hagers- Jr., Waynesboro,

Hagers- James H. Carpenter, In, and Harry F.

town, Md., and Joseph E. Bowling,

Pa., assignors to The Pangborn Corporation, town, Md., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Nov. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 510,516 12 Claims. (Cl. 5114)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This application relates to a work transferassembly for conveying work pieces such as steel bars to a situs offurther treatment such as a blast cleaning operation, and moreparticularly to such an assembly which is particularly adapted forcontinuous operation.

Work pieces such as steel bars must be cleaned or otherwise treatedbefore being utilized in their intended manner. It is essential for thesake of economy that the pieces be effectively transferred to theirsitus of cleaning treatment. It is also desirable that the transfer becarried out continuously with a minimum gap between batches of pieces.

An object of this invention is to provide a work transfer assembly whichefficiently transfers a plurality of work pieces in a relatively shortamount of time. p

Another object of this invention is to provide such an assembly whicheffectively transfers a large number or even a continuous supply of suchwork pieces.

A further object of this invention is to provide such an assembly whichis adaptable for a substantially continuous feed with a minimum gapbetween batches of work pieces.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from thestudy of the following description and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1in one phase of operation with the feed table horizontal;

FIG. 3 is a side view similar to FIG. 1 in a later phase of operationwith the feed table inclined and the first batch of articles beingdischarged;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 in a later phase of operation withthe load rack completely advanced;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 in a later phase of operation withthe transfer rack about to remove articles from the load rack;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 in a later phase of operation withthe load rack returned to its starting position and the first batch ofarticles disposed above the conveyor;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 in a later phase of operation withthe first batch of articles on the conveyor and with the load rack aboutto receive a second batch of articles;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 in a later phase of operation withthe second batch of articles upon the 3,390,488 Patented July 2, 1968 2load rack and with the transfer rack in its starting pos i tion;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 in a later phase of operation withthe transfer rack about to receivethe second batch of articles from theload rack; I

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. '9 in a later phase of operation withthe load rack returnedto its starting position; p

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 in a later phase of operation withthe first batch of articles on the' conveyor, the second batch ofarticles on the transfer rack, and a third batch of articles on the loadrack;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 in a l'ater phase of operation withthe transfer rack about to deposit the second'batch of articles onto theconveyor; i

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 "n a later'phase of operation withthe transfer rack returning'to its starting position for receiving thethird batch of articles from the load rack;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view of another embodiment of this inventionshowing the adjustable stop mechanism and the holdback bar;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view of still another embodiment of thisinvention showing the initial stop mechanism;

FIG. 16- is a fragmentary view of still another embodiment of thisinvention showing the shape of the rack teeth;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary view of still another embodiment of thisinvention showing the pinch roller with flat articles;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 17 showing the pinchroller with round articles;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary view of another embodiment of this inventionshowing the pinch roller assembly;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary view of still another embodiment of thisinvention showing one phase of operation of article transfer from thetable to the load rack; I

FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 20 showing the subsequent phase ofarticles transfer operation;

FIG. 22 is a view similar to FIG. 21 showing a still further phase ofarticle transfer operation; and

FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 22 showing a still further phase ofarticle transfer operation.

Referring now to the drawings as shown in FIG. 1 the work 'pieceassembly 10 includes a load'table 12 which is pivotably secured to liftrod 14 of screw jack assembly 16. The work pieces such as steel bars(FIGS. 2-13) are disposed on table 12 until it is time for the bars tobe, for example, cleaned. Screw jack 14 is then actuated to'raise thetable and the table which rotates on shaft 54 is tilted to permit thebars to slide down inclined portion 20. The bars are prevented fromsliding off table 12 first by the initial stop (FIG. 15) and then byadjustable stop 102 (FIG. 14) after stop 100 has been permanentlyretracted out of stop position. The bars are then picked up by the starwheel 24 and delivered to transfer rack 22 at predetermined intervals.The spacing of the bars is determined by the relative speed of therotating star wheel 24 and the advancing load rack 22. The speed of loadrack 22, for example, is constant, while the rotational speed of starwheel 24 is'variable. As a result by proper adjustment of the star wheelspeed 'with respect to the rack'22 it'is possible to accumulate the barsin some oriented pro-determined multiple. Accordingly, the bars aredeposited in every groove, every second groove, every fourth groove, orany other desirable spacing on load rack 22.

After rack 22 is completely loaded it is positioned above a transferrack 26 rotatably mounted upon a horizontally disposed shaft which isdisposed on work car 28. Rack 26 is then rotated through an arc upwardlylice to lift the bars from load rack 22 While maintaining the samespacing between the bars. Work car 28 then transports the spaced bars toa conveyor 30 after which rack 26 is rotated downwardly, to deposit thebars on the conveyor 30 which, in turn, conducts the bars throughabrasive blasting cabinet 32 wherein the bars are cleaned.

FIGS. 213 show the sequence of operation of work transfer assembly 10.As shown in FIG. 2, work piece or bars 18 are disposed on the horizontalportion of load table 12. Load rack 22 is in its starting position whereits lead notch is disposed adjacent the end of inclined portion 20 ofload table 12. As later described, the exact initial starting positioncan be controlled by cam 34 which abuts against stop member 36 securedto the back of load rack 22. This adjustment of the lead notches orteeth of load rack 22 in relation to the star wheel discharge isparticularly important to compensate for movement characteristics ofdifferent shaped work pieces and for different loading speeds.

In this starting position shown in FIG. 2, transfer rack 26 is lowered.The wheels 38 on transfer car 28 may be disposed to ride on rails 40 toaccurately guide the transfer rack adjacent roller conveyor 30-.

FIG. 3 shows the various elements of assembly 10 immediately after theoperation has begun. As indicated therein table 12 is tilted so that thework pieces slide down inclined end 20. Load rack 22 is driven by, forexample, rack and pinion drive 42, in the forward direction. The speedof star wheel 24 is adjusted with respect to the speed of advancing loadrack 22 so that the bars are lifted from load table 12 and deposited in,for example alternate notches in load rack 22. In this position transferrack 26 is still lowered.

As shown in FIG. 4 load rack 22 has advanced to its extreme forwardposition and its movement is stopped. The star wheel 24 is disengagedand braked. As later described stop 102 of FIG. 14 abuts against thework pieces 18 to prevent further work pieces from sliding otf table 12.Transfer rack 26 has begun to rotate upwardly with work or transfer car28 remaining station ary. FIG. 5 shows the sequence of operation inwhich the transfer rack has risen above load rack 22 so that thearticles are transferred from rack 22 to rack 26 while maintaining thebars in their proper position. The remaining elements of assembly areotherwise the same as in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows the next sequence of operation wherein load rack 22 isreturned to its starting position. Work car 28 is moved toward rollerconveyor 30 with the transfer rack 26 remaining elevated and beingdisposed directly above roller conveyor 30.

FIG. 7 shows the next sequence of operation wherein load rack 22 isadvancing with star wheel 24 depositing articles thereon at the properlyspaced intervals as previously described. As shown in FIG. 7 transferrack 26 is rotated below roller conveyor 30 so that the accumulated barsare disposed in the same predetermined multiples and spacing on rollerconveyor 30 where they are then conveyed into the blast cabinet 32 shownin FIG. 1. As later described with respect to FIGS. 17-19 the workpiecesare maintained at their proper spacing by pinch roller 104 which has nowlowered into contact with the workpieces.

As shown in FIG. 8 the retracted transfer rack 26 is then returned bytransfer or work car 28 to its initial position as shown in FIG. 2. Atthis time rack 22 has been completely loaded and its forward movement ishalted as well as the rotational movement of star wheel 24. Transferrack 26 is again rotated upwardly as indicated in FIG. 9 to remove thespaced work pieces 18 from load rack 22. FIG. 10 shows the next sequenceof operations wherein the original work pieces which were deposited onroller conveyor 30 are being advanced through to the blast cabinet withthe second batch of work pieces being held by transfer rack 26 above theroller conveyor as 4 disposed with regard to FIG. 6. Load rack 22 hasalso returned to its initial or index position.

FIG. 11 shows the relative positioning of the parts at the next sequenceof operation when transfer rack 26 is holding a batch of pieces todeposit them upon roller 30. A prior load on conveyor 30 is moving intothe blast cabinet, and a subsequent load is held on rack 22.

FIG. 12 shows the next sequence of operation wherein bars 18 aredisposed on load rack 22 ready for transfer. Transfer rack 26 issimultaneously being lowered toward conveyor 30 while the previous batchof bars on the conveyor has been advanced into the blast cabinet.

The next sequence of operations is shown in FIG. 13 wherein retractedtransfer rack 26 is being returned to its original position to removebars 18 from load rack 22.

The various moving elements of assembly 10 may be electrically ormechanically connected so that the disposing of a particular element ina certain position controls the movement of another element. Forexample, when a previous load of bars has advanced clear of the unit, anelectromechanical signalling device is actuated to cause transfer rack26 to be lowered to deposit the bars on the grooved conveyor rolls 30.The use of appropriately placed micro-switches facilitates the automaticoperation of assembly 10.

Assembly 10 is particularly advantageous for handling a very largeamount of work pieces because its elements are simultaneously goingthrough their various phases of operation. Thus transfer rack 26 hoversthe bars from one load over a previous load on work conveyor 30. Thismakes it possible to arrange sequential loads upon conveyor 30 with aminimum gap between the loads on the conveyor.

Additionally, the particular contour for the star wheel, rack teeth andload table is such that it will handle many different shapes and sizesof work pieces. For example, work pieces from /2 inch to 4 inchessquare, from /2 inch to 4 inches round, or /2 inch wide to 4 inches wideflats can be effectively conveyed by assembly.

Assembly 10 contains a number of important ramifications whichparticularly enhances its high speed opera tion. Many of theseramifications have been omitted from FIGS. 2-13, which show the sequenceof operation, for the sake of clarity.

One important feature of assembly 10 is the provision of index cam 34shown in FIG. 1. As indicated therein this cam is notched so that it canbe properly and positively indexed when abutting against stop member 36.The cam is utilized before the transferring operation has begun toproperly orient load rack 22. By the positioning of cam 34 it ispossible to accurately index load rack 22 so that a predetermined notchwill be disposed for receiving the first work piece from table 12. Thisis important when determining which notches are to be filled inaccordance with the number of articles which are to be deposited andtheir spacing on the load rack 22. Additionally, not only is theparticular notch of load rack 22 selected by cam 34, but also the cam 34determines the exact portion of the notch which will initially receivethe deposited work piece to thereby best take into account the shape andother characteristics of the work piece and thus assure that each workpiece will remain in its predetermined notch with the work pieces beingproperly spaced from each other. Once this initial setting of cam 34 hasbeen made, the setting is maintained throughout the operation for thesame type of workpieces being transferred.

The importance of cam 34 might best be appreciated from the followingexamples.

In loading four bars on rack 22 which has 16 notches, the bars aredisposed in every fourth notch. It is desirable however that the lastnotch be vacant since pieces in this notch might not be blasted aseffectively. By proper manipulation of cam 34 racks 22 can be indexed toreceive an article in the third, rather than fourth, notch. Thusarticles would be deposited in the third, seventh, eleventh,

and fifteenth notches. Accordingly cam 34 permits rack 22 to be indexedfor symmetrical work positioning on conveyor 30 for the most effectiveblasting operation.

This indexing can be accomplished with such accuracy that the shape andmovement characteristics can be taken into account in determining whichpart of the notch initially receives the articles. Accordingly rounds(bars of circular cross-section) can be prevented from rolling into thewrong notch by using the point of a previous notch as a brake to slowdown the rounds for proper registry. Additionally rack 22 could beindexed so that each article receiving notch has enough of a lead forreceiving wide flats to permit the star wheel 24 to clear the flat whenrotating past it.

Another important feature of assembly is the adjustable stop mechanism102 shown in FIG. 14. As indicated therein stop mechanism 102 includes astop arm 106 which is secured at one end to screw jack assembly 108. Arm106 pivots about shaft 110 and terminates in an appropriately shapedslanted end 112 which contacts the workpieces. Before the transferoperation is begun screw jack mechanism 108 is manipulated to properlyorient slanted end 112 of arm 106 so that the workpieces on inclinedportion 20 of table 12 will abut against but not ride over end 112 and(as later described) to assure that only one work piece at a time willbe transferred. The orientation of arm 106 is made to take into accountthe particular shape and other characteristics of the workpieces beingtransferred. Once the orientation has been made, it is left unchangedthroughout the transferring operations. During the inactive stages ofthe transferring operation, as shown for example in FIG. 4, when starwheel 24 is disengaged, stop member 112 abuts against the workpieces toprevent them from sliding off inclined portion 20. During the otherphases of operation however star wheel 24 lifts the workpieces overinclined end 112 to properly position the work pieces on load rack 22.

Although adjustable stop 102 is effective to prevent the workpieces fromsliding off table 12 at various stages after the operation has begun,the low inclination of end 112 which facilitates the transfer operationwould not be sufiicient to act as a stop member when table 12 isinitially raised and the workpieces slide down inclined port on 20 at arelatively high rate of speed. During this initial phase of operation itis therefore important to provide some means such as initial stopmechanism 100 which is shown in FIG. 15. As indicated therein theinitial stop arm 114 rotates about shaft 116 under the influence ofpistoncylinder assembly 118. As shown in FIG. 15 the arm 114 issubstantially vertical with the piston-cylinder assembly 118 beingextended. Upon raising the table 12 the articles slide or roll downinclined portion and are prevented from rolling off the table bycontacting arm 114 which acts as a shock absorber. (When rounds arebeing transferred it is not necessary to raise table 12, since therounds can roll down inclined portion 20.) The workpieces in this haltedposition would also be in contact with adjustable arm 112 shown in FIG.14. After the pieces have been initially halted, piston-cylinderassembly 118 retract-s arm 114 so that the transferring operation cantake place.

The actual transferring operation from table 12 to rack 22 can best beunderstood by reference to FIGS. 14 and 20-23. In the position shown inFIG. 14 a workpiece 121 having a circular cross-section abuts againstthe end 112 of stop 106. A ramp 122 is arranged adjacent end 112 withhold back bar 120 resting against the ramp.

FIG. 20 shows how star wheel 24 lifts workpiece 121 up inclined end 112.Advantageously, teeth 25 of star wheel 24 are pointed to assure liftingonly one workpiece at a time. In this respect, if the star wheel teethwere blunt, as the tooth rotated to transfer one workpiece the blunttooth would move the next workpiece partially up inclined end 112. Thustwo workpieces would be transferred by the next tooth. This danger isprevented by pointing teeth 25.

As indicated in FIG. 21 workpiece 121 rolls down tooth 25 on to ramp122. Flat workpieces are then pushed across ramp 122 'by the rotatingtooth 25. Round workpieces, however, usually roll ahead of tooth 25. Toprevent the round-s from rolling olf ramp 25 into the wrong notch ofrack 22, hold back bar 120 is provided. As shown in FIG. 1 bar 120 ispivotally suspended at one end, with its other end resting upon ramp122. Bar 120 is in the form of an open channel (FIG. 14) closed at oneend so that weights 124 could be placed therein. The specific weightsare determined by the rounds being transferred. The weights must beheavy enough to prevent the rounds from pushing through, while lightenough to permit the star wheel to force the rounds .past bar 120. It isalso important that the bar 120 contact lamp 122 on its fiat portion orat the junction of the flat and inclined portions. If the contact weremade at the incline, small diameter rounds might be pinched between theramp and bar, and the star wheel might slide under the rounds withouttransferring it to rack 22.

As shown in FIG. 22 as the correct notch of rack 22 approaches the endof ramp 122, tooth 25 pushes against piece 121 to raise bar 120. Piece121 then rolls or slides down ramp 122 into rack 22 as indicated in FIG.23.

The shape of the various elements of assembly 10 have been carefullyselected to facilitate high speed accurate operation with a minimum gapbetween batches of workpieces. For example as previously noted cam 34accurately indexes rack 22 while the pointed teeth 25 of star wheel 24and the inclined stop arm 106 assure that only one workpiece will betransferred at a time. In this respect the shape of the notches in loadrack 22 and transfer rack 26 is also important.

As indicated in FIG. 16 load rack 22 includes a plurality of notches orteeth which have a sloping support surface 23 at a 60 angle to asomewhat vertical locking side 27, which in turn is at an angle to bluntcushion side 29. The selection of the acute angle (in particular 60)between work contacting surfaces 23 and 27 is particularly impor- -tantfor very wide work pieces 19. In this respect if work contactingsurfaces 23 and 27 were at right angles to each other or at an obtuseangle to each other, extra wide work piece 19 would topple over bypivoting on the point 31 of the rack teeth. By selecting an acute angleof, for example, 60 the work piece 19 is supported by inclined surface23 with its upper corner wedged against surface 27 to effectively lockthe work pieces 19 in place and thus overcome any tendency for the workpiece to fall into the next rack notch. The selection of a 60 angleresults from the consideration that a larger acute angle permits alarger support surface, while a smaller angle provides better lockingaction.

Flat surface 29 is provided for larger diameter rounds. If the notchesterminated in points by having side 27 extend upwardly until it joinedwith inclined side 23, large rounds might strike the points and rollinto the wrong notch. With the configuration shown in FIG. 16, however,this danger is eliminated. In this respect the rounds strike the bluntside 29 which acts as a cushion to prevent incorrect placement of therounds.

It is to be understood of course that the teeth of transfer rack 26 mayhave the same shape as those of load rack 22.

Another feature of assembly 10 is shown in FIGS. 17- 19. This feature ispinch roller 104 which maintains the pieces in their proper orientationon conveyor 30. As indicated in FIGS. 17-18 pinch roller 104 freelyrotates on its shaft and is so shaped as to maintain both flat and roundworkpieces in their proper notches in conveyor 30. After the workpiecesare deposited in conveyor 30 pinch roller 104 is lowered until itpinches or presses against the workpieces. As indicated in FIG. 17 theinclined surface of the pinch roller rests on flat workpieces, while thehorizontal surfaces seats on the rounds shown in FIG. 18.

Since rollers 104 are freely mounted on shaft 105, the rollers arerotated by the moving workpieces.

As indicated in FIG. 19 at least one pinch roller 104i is provided onthe feed side of blast housing 32. These external rollers are raised andlowered by the positive action of piston-cylinder assembly 107. Withinblast housing 32 are a number of free swinging pendulum type mountedpinch rollers 104a. Internal pinch rollers 104a are for the purpose ofpreventing the workpieces from being dislodged by blast streams directedfrom below the workpieces. A pair of the many variously located blastwheels 109 are schematically shown in FIG. 19.

The above described assembly 10 is particularly suitable for high speedoperation with a minimum gap between each batch. In actual practice aplurality of the various components (ramps, star wheels, racks, etc.)are arranged side-by-side for simultaneous operation. Thus work piecesas long as 40 feet, for example, could be carried by these side-by-sideassemblies.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, tobe understood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly comprising article feed means, a load rack for receivingthe transferred articles from said feed means, said load rackreciprocating back and forth adjacent said feed means, said rack havingarticle receiving teeth thereon, spacing means for depositing thearticles upon said load rack at predetermined spaced intervals, a *workpiece conveyor for moving the articles to an area of treatment, and atransfer rack for moving the articles from said load rack to saidconveyor while maintaining the articles at said predetermined spacing.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including adjustable indexingmeans for controlling the initial position of said load rack withrespect to said feed means and said spacing means, said indexing meansincluding a stop member on said load rack and a notched cam disposed inthe path of motion of said stop member.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including initial stop meansdisposed adjacent said feed means for acting as a shock absorber toprevent articles from being prematurely discharged from said feed means,the delivery portion of said feed means being inclinable, said initialstop means including a substantially vertical arm disposed at saiddelivery portion of said feed means when said feed means is inclined,and means for retracting said arm.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including stop means disposedadjacent said feed means to position the articles to be transferred oneat a time from said feed means by said spacing means, the deliveryportion of said feed means being inclinable, said stop means including astop arm disposed at said delivery portion and sloping away therefrom.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spacing meansincludes a variable speed star wheel having pointed teeth.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein adjustable stop means isdisposed adjacent said feed means for positioning the articles to betaken one at a time from said feed means by said star wheel, a rampbeing disposed between said adjustable stop means and said load rackwhereby the articles may be transferred by said star wheel from saidadjustable means upon said ramp and to said load rack, and said loadrack being reciprocatable adjacent said ramp.

7. A work transfer assembly comprising article feed means, a load rackfor receiving the transferred articles from said feed means, spacingmeans for depositing the articles upon said load rack at predeterminedspaced intervals, a workpiece conveyor for moving the articles to anarea of treatment, a transfer rack for moving the articles from saidload rack to said conveyor while maintaining the articles at saidpredetermined spacing, said load rack including a plurality of articlereceiving teeth, each of said teeth including an inclined supportsurface and a locking surface disposed at an acute angle to said supportsurface.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said acute angle isapproximately and each of said teeth terminating in a fiat surfaceinclined away from said locking surface.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including pinch roll meansdisposed adjacent said conveyor for maintaining the articles at saidpredetermined spacing on said conveyor, said pinch. roll means is afreely rotatable upper roller having an inclined surface terminating ina substantially horizontal surface, and means for raising and loweringsaid roller.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 being in combination withblasting means, said conveyor moving said articles through said blastingmeans, and at least one of said pinch roll means being disposedexternally of said blasting means, and at least one of said pinch rollmeans being disposed within said blasting means and being of thependulum type.

.11. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including holdback meansdisposed between said feed means and said load rack for preventing thepremature transfer of round articles, said holdback means including aweighted movable bar disposed in the path of travel of articles beingdischarged from said feed means.

12. An assembly comprising article feed means, a load rack for receivingthe transferred articles from said feed means, spacing means fordepositing the articles upon said load rack at predetermined spacedintervals, a work piece conveyor for moving the articles to an area oftreatment, and a transfer rack for moving the articles from said loadrack to said conveyor while maintaining the articles at saidpredetermined spacing, said feed means including a pivotable load table,the discharge end of said load table being inclined, and elevating meansfor raising and lowering said table, initial stop means disposedadjacent the inclined end of said table, said initial stop meansincluding a hydraulically operated shock absorbing arm disposed to movetoward and away from said inclined end of said table, adjustable stopmeans being disposed ad acent said inclined end of said table, saidadjustable stop means including a pivotable arm, said pivotable armterminating in an inclined end whereby an article to be transferred isdisposed on said table abutting against said inclined end, a ramp beingdisposed adjacent said adjustable stop means, said ramp having a flatsupport surface and terminating in an inclined surface, said spacingmeans including a variable speed rotatable star wheel adacent said ramp,said star Wheel having pointed teeth for lifting each article over saidadjustable stop means and across said ramp, a weighted holdback barpivotably mounted at one end above said ramp with its other end restingupon said fiat surface of said ramp, said holdback bar having an openchannel cross section and being closed at its lower end, removableweights mounted in said channel shaped holdback bar, said load rackincluding rec procal drive means for advancing said rack adjacent saidramp, a plurality of teeth being in said rack, each of said teethincluding an inclined support surface, a locking surface disposedapproximately 60 to said inclined support surface, and each toothterminating in a flat surface inclined away from said locking surface,said transfer rack including rotatable drive means whereby sa d rack maybe rotated upwardly to lift the pieces off sald load rack, said transferrack having a plurality of teeth WhlCh correspond in shape to said loadrack teeth, said transfer rack being mounted upon a movable car tofacilitate its movement from said load rack to said conveyor, guiderails disposed under said car for assuring the accurate movement of saidtransfer rack to said conveyor,

said conveyor being in the form of a plurality of roller conveyor meanswith rolls corresponding to said teeth on said load rack and transferrack, blast means for cleaning the articles, said roller conveyor meansextending into said blast means, pinch roll means disposed above saidroller conveyor means externally of said blast means, said pinch rollmeans including freely mounted rollers having an inclined surface and ahorizontal surface, a piston assembly for raising and lowering saidexternally mounted pinch roll means, further pinch roll means beingdisposed internally of said blast means, and said 10 internally disposedpinch roll means having a pendulum type mounting.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,210,531 8/1940 Engelbaugh eta1, 51 215 X 2,837,200 6/1958 Evans l98-33 3,036,413 5/1962 Schulte51-215 3,214,001 10/1965 Callaghan 214-1 LESTER M. SWINGLE, PrimaryExaminer.

